Syrian Legislator Defects

A Syrian parliamentarian left the country Monday after losing hope the Assad government would implement reforms.

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Chana Ya'ar, 16/01/12 23:08

Syrian protesters

Israel news photo: courtesy of Ugarit News

A Syrian parliamentarian left the country Monday after losing hope the Assad government would implement reforms.

Homs representative Imad Ghalioun told the Al Arabiya news network that the central Syrian city, which has been the focus of efforts by President Bashar al-Assad to break nearly 11 months of anti-government protests, is a disaster zone.

"The people of Homs are under siege and the city is disaster-stricken," Ghalioun said. "There is no electricity, piles of garbage fill the streets ... The sounds of shelling all night terrify the children."

The lawmaker has joined the opposition against the Assad regime, and told reporters there are many legislators who support the uprising, albeit not publicly.

More than 6,000 protesters have been killed by Assad security forces since the uprising began in March 2011, ignited by the Arab Spring that swept the region, according to United Nations figures. At least 400 people have died in the last three weeks alone.